Convertible carriage work



April 30, 1929. C, HQCH 1,710,874

CONVERTIBLE CARRIAGE WORK Filed April 2o, lgz a sheets-sheet l Hoc f) m/ Ve/vror April 30, 1929. c. HOCH CONVERTIBLE CARRIAGE WORK Apri] 30, 1929. c. HOCH CONVERTIBLE CARRIAGE WORK Filed April 20, 1925 a sheets-sheet 3 Lam C- Hoc/x April 30, 1929. C, HOCH 1,710,874

CONVERTIBLE CARRIAGE WORK Filed April 20, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 www1-br April 30, 1929. C, HQQH CONVERTIBLE vGARRIMHE WORK n Filed April 20. 192e4 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 O f .mmmmwwMUMwwmhmwww ww x nu... N Mw .wm H. w @En Q m April 30, 1929. HOCH 1,710,874

CONVETIBLE CARRIAGE WORK File'd April 2o, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet e C. HOCH CONVERTIBLE CARRIAGE WORK April 30, 1929.

Filed April 20, 1926 8 Shee'bS-Sheel',

April 30, 1929. c. HOCH 1,710,874

CONVERTIBLE CARRIAGE WORK Filed April 20, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8` Hgj] gg 93,

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED, STATES `CHAR-mas H6611, oF Haanstra-SEINE, ramon.

CONVERTIBLE ommen wonx.

Application led April 20, 1926, Serial No. 103,337, and in France' April 28, 1925.

My invention relates to a convertible carriagc-work which 'is adapted Y.tor use with a motor vehicle frame, and is 'so arranged that when thc hood in the extended "position, the vehicle will have the exact appearance o a closed vehicle vof the coup, limousine or in-` side driving type. Y

For this purpose, the hood consists of a fiat member or curtain consisting of leather l0 or like material and provided with framing or strengthening parts whereby it may be wound'upon a drum which is.concealed in a y casing mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The edges of the hood are movable in pivoted guides in such manner that when the `said guides are folded out, they will extend upon the whole or a part of the vehicle, and herein they are supported by vertically movable columns; these latter, as well as the said guides, are concealed in the walls of the 'vehicle body when the vehicle is converted into a torpedo. Suitable controlling means serve to raise and lower the several columns at the same time.

Due to the divided arrangement of the gl'xiales and to the disposition of the columns and the flexible hood, the doors and the glass Windows can be always opened and closed, irrespectively of the transformation of the carriage-work.

The appended drawings show by way of example three embodiments of the. invention. Fig. 1 is a lengthwise section of the vehlcle. i i is a partial rear elevation, w1th Fig. 2 the easing removed. Fig. 3 is a partial line 3-3 of Figfl.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic elevational view of theclosed vehicle.

Fig. 53 is a like elevational view with parts broken away andl` the hood Withdrawn. Figs. G to 9 show the second construction. Fig. G is a lengthwise section of the Vehicle, With-the columns raised and the hood partly extended.

Fig. 7 is a partial horizontal sectlon on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6.'

horizontal section on the Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of the metal curtain of the hood.

Fig. 9 is a vertical-section of one of the guides of the hood. Figs. 10 to 18 relate to the third construction.

Fig.,10 is an elevational view of the carriage body, with parts broken away.

Fig. 11 is a plan view, the curtain being removed, the columns lowered and the doors on one side of the vehicle opened. i'

Fig. 12 is a partial cross-section of the vehicle with the hood extended.-

Figs. 13, 14, 15 are respectively an elevational and a plan view and a vertical section on. a larger scaleof a detail of the vehicle 'body showing the assembling of .two guide parts with a column and withlthe vehicle body. l i

Fig. 16 is a partial cross section on the line 1G-16 of Fig. 15.

Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively a vertical section and a plan view of a set of gearing for the control of the columns. As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the vehicle hoodv consists of a leather sheet or curtain 1 which isprovided adjacent each of its lateral edges with a .strip of s ring steel 2; said stri s are cross-connected y the transverse mem ers 3 which maybe of spring steel and are secured tothe stri s 2 by riveted axles upon which are revolu le the spherical rollers 4. The said rollers are slidable in two guides, each ofwhich consists of three U iron members 5, 6 and 7. The rst member, which has a suitably curved outline, is secured to the upper ends of the two columns '8 and 13;.l the second is link connectedat 9 to the first; and the third is pivoted at 10 to the second, so that when the said slides are folded and. thel columns 8 and 13 are caused to disappear 'within the vehicle body, by means of the mechanislinto be further described, the different movable partsl will occupy the position hown atthe part which isbroken away in ig'. 5., i v .l

Between the doors 11 and 12, at ech lside of the vehicle, is provided a column 14 which may be raised at the same time as `the columns 8 and 413 intothe position shown-in Figs. 1 and 4 in orde'rto support thetslides, or may be lowered and caused to disappear within the box part rovided -for the purpose.

The said co umns are raised and lowered by means of a mechanism which comprisesy a hand wheel 15 disposed under the drivers seat1 so 'that le'is enabled toactuatea cross shaft 16 by means of worm gearing. `1.1,05

To the ends of the; said shaft. are keyed bevel gear wheels engaging like wheels keyedv to the adjacent ends of longitudinal shafts 17, one of which is rovided on each side of the vehicle though ut one is shown. Each shaft 17 actuates pinions 18, 19, 2O through suitable auxiliary bevel gearing and shafts controlling the respective columns 8` 13, 14.

For this purpose the pinions carry at the periphery a set of teeth or studs coacting with racks formed by the metal strips 21 which are regularly apertured.

The front end of the guide, that is to say the portion 7, will rest upon and is detachably secured to a stationary column 22 carrying the wind shield, known per se.

At the rear of the vehicle body is mounted a box` part 24 in which is transversely disposed a drum 25 upon which the hood or curtain is wound (Fig. 5). The shaftr of the drum 25, which is mounted 'in suitable bearings, is rotated by two chain wheels 26 disposed at the respective ends of the drum, each being connected by a chain 27 with the respective chain wheels 28, 29.

The latter are mounted at the ends ofthe transverse shafts 30,31 which arecontained in the box 24 and may be turned by the respective handles 32, 33.

I have provided two handles so that the control device for the hood may be actuated in a convenient manner irrespectively of the height of the driver.

The hood lis displaced in either direction by means of two pinions 34 which are mounted upon the shaft 30 and are adapted to engage the rollers 4 whose series forms a sort of rack. In its motion, the hood is maintained between two guides 35, '36 placed in the box 24 and in contact with the strips 2 and the rollers 4. i

The several parts being as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, for the closed position of the vehicle,

i if it is desired to convert the vehicle into an open vehicle of the torpedo type, the driver turns one of the handles 32-33 according to the arrows (Fig. 1). p their engagement with the rollers 4.will cooperate with the drum 25 to which is secured the end of the hood l, so as to draw upon the hood, and it will thus be wound upon the drum 25; he continues the operation until the front` end of the hood is engage-d in the box, while the pinions 34 are still engaged with the rollers 4.

The said guides are then folded down, and their different sections then rest upon the two columns 8, 13; the hand wheel 15 is then operated so that the said columns will disappear in their recesses in the walls of the vehicle body.

To convertthe vehicle into a torpedo of the inside .steering type, the driver proceeds with the contrary operation; due to the flexible framing of the hood, the latter will 'be drawn by the pinions'34 and will be thus unwound,

The pinions 34-due to.Y

assuming its place in a natural manner in the guides 5, 6, 7. It will then suice to attach the front end of the hood to the front ends of the guides or to the wind shield.

The construction shown in Figs. G to 9 differs chiefly from the foregoing f i'om the fact that the columns are raised by means of a liquid delivered by a compressor into vertical Acylinders coacting with pistons supporting the said columns.

`Within the walls of the vehicle body, whose thickness is exaggerated in Fig. 7 for the sake of clear-ness, are disposed the cylinders 36 coactingiwith the pistons moved by a suitable liquid souch as oil. The oil is contained in a tank 37 placed forwardly of the dashboard and connected through a valve 38 with a compressor 39 which can be set running by a pedal 40a for clutching purposes whereby an axially movable pinion 40 is engaged with the engine flywheel 40h, which is usually toothed the disengagement of the pinion 40 from the iiywheel 40h being effected by axially displacement by means of a spring 40C.

The oil underpressure raises a valve 41 and circulates through a pipe 42 into a tank 43 from which there are branched six conduits 44 connecting said tank with the cylinders 3G through the needlevalves 45. The latter are regulated once for all in such manner that in spite of the different losses of pressure in the various conduits 44, the 'same pressure will prevail under each piston, so that all of the columns will be` raised at a uniform` rate. y

Upon the rods 36L of each of the three pistons on one side of the vehicle are mounted the sleeves 46, 47, 48 of square crosssection whose closedtop serves to support the guides of the hood.v Upon two opposite faces, the said sleeves comprise the bars 49 of trapezoidal'or like cross section which are `slidable in corresponding slots in the lower stationary columns and serve to guide the motion of the said sleeves. y

The sleeve 46 carries upon both faces, and the sleeve 47 upon one face only, the guides 50 for the glass windows of the doors 11 and 12, whilst the sleeves 47 and 48 carry upon their oppositely situated faces the guides 51 for the rear glass pane.

The upper part of the sleeve "48 has a suitably curved outline corresponding to the shape of the carriage body when the vehicle is closed.

Vhen the sleeves forming the upper columns have attained the end of the upward stroke, the compressor is' stopped. The oil pressure is constantly indicated by the pressure gauge 52. The guides of the hood are unfolded, and the hood is spread out upon the vehicle body as shown in Figs. l to5.

'Vhen the vehicle is to be converted into a torpedo, the hood and its guides are folded back, and the driver opens a needle valve 53 to enable the oil toflow from the cylinders intothe oil tank 37. Y i

Due to the automatic control of the columns which is thus obtained, provide a simple apparatus with a resultingeconomy and at the same time eliminate the noise occasioned by fthedjarring effects and by the shocks of the roa ferent gear wheels.

The guides of the hood consist of structural bars, for instance of duralumin; they are link connected at 9aL and 10 and have the cross section shown at 54 in Fig. 9 whereby the joint between the vehicle body andthe hood will bemade iluidtight.

The hood consists of the metal members\55 (Fig. 8), made preferably of duralumin, whose cross section is somewhat 4of `an S shape and which aremutually engaged as shown in Fig. 8. l

To each of the said members is secured a' forked holder 56 in which is revoluble a roller 57 preferably of fibre; all 'of the rollers of tre hgod roll in the guides 54, a's show-n in 1 heaxles of the said rollers are connected together in pairs'by the plates 58 (analogous to roller chain plates) so as to provide for the' mutual engagement ofthe members 55 while at the same time allowing the proper f iexibilty for the framing of the hood thus constructed. v l

One end of the hood is attached, as above stated, to the drum-25 disposedin the box 24 provided at the rear of the vehicle body. The hood passes under a drum 59, and it is actuated by a pair of pinions 34 by means of the crank 33. i f

In the third form of construction (Figs. 10 to 18) the columns as well as the hood are controlled by one of the pinions of thechange ,speed box 60 by means of a jaw 4clutch or the like, which is actuated by the rod and link gear 61 connected with a hand lever or a pedal, not shown, and the motion is imparted to a set of gearind 'which is contained in a casing 62 to be further described.

A shaft63, controlling the motion of the hood, leads from the caslng 62 which is also traversed by a. shaft 64 perpendicular to the shaft 63 and actuating-by bevel gearing-- the two shafts 65 Which are parallel to the side beams 66 of the vehicle frame.

To the upper part of said beams are secured at intervals thesupports 67 which are laterally separated from the side beams by the buffers 68 of rubber or the like, and to which are secured the auxiliary side beams 69.

To the latter,and adjacent keach of the up- 70 which is made in twq part and is traversed by the shaft 65,- and "whichs also servesl as' a step bearingv for 'a screwt-hreaded shaft" 71,y

and also to the play between the dif'A vmay substitute a flexible To the said casing issecured a two-part sheath 73 within which the respective column can be displaced; each column, 74 for instance, is pierced axially to give passage to the shaft 71, which accordln to the. direction of its rotation will raise or ower the column inasmuch as the latter is secured to a nut 75 in which the shaft 71 can be screwed and unscrewed. ,The upright is guided in its sheath due to the fact that it has inserted into each of its opposite sides two straight-edges 77, for. instance of brass, in each ofwhich is formed a groove in which is engaged a rightangled part of the sheath 73 which is slidable in the said groove.

Between the rear column and the adjacent intermediate column, the shaft 65 is divided into two (parts situated at a certain angle and connecte together by a universal joint member 76 so as "to pass above the rear axle. l member for the two parts of the sliaft 65. To allow the shafts 65 to follow the deformations of the vehicle frame, I provide elastic couplings I77 at 'intei-vals along the said shafts 65.

The hood is controlled in the same manner asin theprecedingaconstructions. When the vehicle is open, it is wound on-the drum 25 which is placed in the box 24 disposedl at the rear of the vehicle body. The shaft of the drum 25 is mounted in suitable bearings and is rotated by the two pinions 26 mounted at the respective ends of the drum, each pinion being connected by a chain 27 to the sprocket wheels 28 and29 which are mounted on the respective transverse shafts 30 and 31.

"Upon the shaft 31 is mounted a bevel pinion 78 which is driven by a like pinion mounted on the end of an inclined shaft 63 actuated by a set of' gearing contained in the casing' 62, with interposition of the elastic coupling 77 When the shaft 63 is rotated in one or the other direction, this will draw out the hood when the columns are raised, or will cause the 'hood to be wound upon the drum 25 when the vehicle is to be opened.

The various movements which are imparted to the shafts 65 and 63 are transmitted, as.

,pinion 82 secured to a bevel pinion :83, these two pinions being loose on a shaft 84.

The pinion 83 is in gearcngagement with the two bevel pinions 85-.486 which are ymounted loose and adjacent one another on the shaft 64, `and engage a fourth bevel pinion 87 which is secured to a spur pinion 88 and isl loose on a shaft 89. Upon their adjacent faces the pinions85-86 are with clutching teeth 85, 86a.

The spur pinion S8 is in gear engagement' with a like pinion 90 which is loose on the shaft 63 and is provided on its outer face with clutching teeth 90% The shaft G3 turns in a recess in the pinion 81. A socket 91 which is slidable on the shaft 03 but is rotatable with the latter, is provided with clutch teeth on both faces, said teeth coactingwith the like teeth Sl or 90 according as the socket 91 is moved in one or the other direction on the shaft 63 by the fork 92 which is connected bv rod and link gear, not shown, with a pedal or a lever for the drivers use.

Due to the four bevel pinions 83-85--86- 8 7, the spur pinion 90 will turn in the contrary direction to the pinion 81, so that when the socket 91 is moved one way or theother, the shaft 63 will rotate in one direction or the other, whereby thehood will be moved' forward upon the vehicle or will be wound upon the drum 25. I

On the shaft 04 is mounted provided ing clutch teeth on both faces which will engage either the clutch teeth 85at or 80" according to the movement of the said socket by the fork 93. Since the two pinions 85-86 turn in opposite directions, the socket 92 can be engaged with the pinion 85 or the pinion 86, thus rotating the shaft G4 inthe corresponding direction and hence rotatlng the shafts 65, whereby the columns 74, 74a, 74", 74C will be raised or lowered.

To conceal the sheaths 73 and to provide the proper curved outline for the vehicle body, the said columns and their sheaths are covered by the panels 94.

The hood further comprises a leather curtain or flap 1 which is suitably attached to the steel plates 95 and has a suflieient width to be broughtdown upon the latter at their ends. Near these ends are mounted the members 96 on which the rollers 97 are rotatably mounted. The rollers 97, like' the rollers 4 of Figs. 1-5, form by their succession a sort of rack serving to draw the hood in one direction or the other inasmuch as they engage the pinions 34 having suitably shaped teeth which are mounted near cach end of the shaft 30.

. The guides in which the hood moves when the columns are raised consist of the metal 'members 98, 98, 98b having at the side a lengthwise slot for the insertion of the supports 96 of the rollers 97, as well as two projections 99 for guiding the said rollers which roll between them as bet-Ween two rails'. The members 98, 98', 98b are secured to the respective wooden bars 100, 100% 1001.

At each side of the vehicle, the guides for the hood thus formed are divided into three parts 98-100; 98E- 100% 98b-.-100"; the part 100 is secured in a known manner to the co1- in the same manner as the socket 90-a socket 92 earryumns 74 and 74a, whilst the parts 100a and ,.100" are hinged at 113 to the columns 74c and 74b so as to follow the motion of the doorson their respective hinges 114 when the co1- umns are lowered.

Each of the columns 74"L and 74b comprise a projection 101 which serves as an abutment for the door.

Each door consists of two panels 10Q-103- ner pancl103 of each door is grooved at 107 f for the insertion of a tongue 108 mounted on the bars 100l and 100b whereby the said bars will participate in the opening and closing movements of the corresponding doors.

When the guides aref raised with the said columns in order to'freceive the hood, the tongue 108 serves as an abutment for the glass window 100 when the latter is raised.

At the upper end of each column 74a and 74b is mounted a metal member 109 in which is pivoted a latch or bolt 110 urged bya a spring 111 so that the rear end of the latch will bear upon the top of the corresponding haltsheath 73. lVhen the columns are raised, the rear end of the latch'is disengaged, and the front end of the latch, which is raised by a spring 111, will be engaged in a mortise 112 in the guide, so as to prevent the latter from turning towards the exterior.

Having thus described my apparatus, what 'I vclaim as new therein,and my own invenl. In a convertible carriage-work for motor vehicles, the combination of a sliding curtain adapted to close the top and the rear of the vehicle, a slide upon each side adapted to serve as a guide for the said curtain, up-

rights carrying the said slides and so adapted as to be able to be raiscdabove the body when the vehicle is to be closed and to be concealed in the walls of the said body when the vehicle is to be open, controlling means to produce the descent and the ascent of the saiduprights and the sliding of the said curtain through the engine of the vehicle, a central box adapted to control themotions of the said uprights and of the said curtain, a clutch interposed between the said box and the said engine, the said box containing transmission members, clutches and a-change speed gear, the said means for controlling the uprights comprising a nut at the lower end of each ot the said uprights, a threaded rod upon which the said nut is screwed, a case in which is revolubly mounted the lower end of the said rod and transmission means adapted to connect the said transmission means with the transmission members contained in the said central box, a sheath made of two parts upon U wh of as mand in which can gaat the respective uprightfthe two parts etA this Y sheath being so arranged as `to have a slot "clutches and a-change speed gear, each one o provided therebetween, projections formed `V through the sai u on the u ri ht and `passinvoutwardly p l p sloh'these projctions being adapted to serve asili-leaf or fly for the cor respond-ing doorofthefsaid vehicle. p

2. In a convertible carriage-Werl: for motori r vehicles, the combination of a slidmg curtain .adapted to close the top and the rear-of the i vehicle, a" slide upon each "side adapted to serve as a uide for the said curtain, uprightsl carr. ing t e said slides and so adapted as to.

vehicle Vis to be closed and to'be concealed in be a le to be raised above the body when the f miden tween .the saidbon and the said engine the said boit containing transmission mem Yrs the said slides comprising three arts, the lirst part being secured to the two rst'uprights and the second and third parts beinghinged to thel third and fourth uprightsso as to be able to Vfollow the movement ofthe vehicle doors when the said uprights are lowered, shcathsmadeof two parts -upon each side of the vehicle 'and in each of which can slide the said uprights, ametal part at .the upper endof each of the said uprights, a latch linked to the sa1d'part,a spring adapted to cause the eng ment ofthe nose ofthe said Vlatch or bolt with `one of the said movable parts of the slide when the walls of the said body-when the vehicle is Athe uprightsare raised, the said latch being to b open, controlling means to roduce the descent-'and the ascent of the said uprights and the sliding of the said curtain through the engine of the vehicle, a central bos adapted to control the motions of the said uprlghts and onth'e said curtain, a clutch interposed between the said box and the saidengine, the

said box containing transmission members, clutches and a change speed gear, thel said means for driving or controlling the" uprivhts comprising an'ut at the lower end of each of the said Yuprights, a threaded rod upon which the said mit is screwed, a case in which is revolubly mounted the lower end of the said rod and vtransmission means adapted to connect the said transmission means with the transmission members contained in the central box, a sheath made of two parts upon each of the cases and in which vcan slide the respective upright, the two parts of this sheath being so arranged as to have a slot provided therebetween, two guide-bars upon two opposite sides of the said upright and in which are provided grooves, the two parts of the `said sheath com- 4 prising aj rectangular bendin adapted to be engaged and to slide in one -of t e'said rooves.

3. In a convertible carriagelwork or motor vehicles, the combination of al sliding cur- A tain adapted to close the'top and the rear of the vehicle, a slide uylcn each side, adapted to v be open, controllingmeans adapted to produce the descent and thel ascent of the said uprights and the sliding of the said curtain through the l engine of the vehicle, a central box adapted to control `the motions of the said upri hts Y and of the said curtain, a clutch inter be-V body when the vehicle is to be closed and to be concealed in the walls ofthe said body when the vehicle is to be open, controlling means allowing to produce the descent andthe ascent'of .the said uprights and the sliding of the said curtain through the engine of the vehicle, a central box adapted to control the motions of the said upright-s and of the said curtain, a clutch interposed between the saidl box and the said engine, the said box containing transmission members, clutches `and a change speed gear, every one of the said slides comprising several members, the first member being'attached to the two irst uprights and the others being connected by'means of llingesto the corresponding uprights so as to be able to follow the movements of the carriage doors when the said uprights are lowered, casings on each side of the carriage in which the said uprights can slide and locking means mounted upon the uprights and upon the slide elements and adapted to render the said elements'l with the uprights except when the latter are in their low position, the said locking means being automaticallyllnlozked in this position in virtue of their engagement with the stationary part of the body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES HOCH. I

latch of the 

